you can take em off but once you do they're pretty much worthless. as in every time you take it off you have to buy one. well most of em. i got lucky with my little metal spikes once and could put them back on.as far as necessary, on some boards they are. my grudge is impossible to ride without a stomp. the topsheet is a polished clear coat and is slicker than ice. but my manual isnt nearly as slick so i can ride it without. i use clear skateboard griptape on my grudge as a stomp pad. find out this winter if it'll work or not. its not paper so it should, and you cant even tell unless you're looking directly at it.
